Page 17 of Hot Stepbrother Daddy

"Uh, man, I'm talking to her right now."

Adam finally looks fully at Danny, as if he hadn't even really noticed him until just now. Annoyance flickers over his face. "This doesn't involve you. Walk away."

Woah. This is a totally new Adam. Just as magnetic, just as handsome, but with an edge that has heat rushing over me.

Danny looks like he’s about to argue, but something in Adam’s expression makes him think twice. He mutters something under his breath and walks off, shooting me one last look before disappearing into the crowd.

“Seriously, Adam?” I hiss, my face flushing as I realize we’ve drawn the attention of a few nearby partygoers. “What are you even doing here?”

Now that Danny is gone, his voice isn't as harsh. "Can we talk? In private?"

I can feel my cheeks burning, and I know I don’t have much choice if I want to avoid becoming the night’s main gossip. “Fine,” I snap, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the house.

We pass through the arched doorway into a quieter part of the building, where the noise of the party fades into a dull hum. I stop near a closed door, crossing my arms and glaring at him.

“Okay, Adam. You’ve got me alone. What the hell is this about?”

Adam is silent, but I swear I can hear his desire, feel it on my skin. I cross my arms tighter over my chest, trying to ignore the way my pulse quickens under his gaze. “Well? You dragged me away from the party. What do you want, Adam?”

His lips part, but no words come out. He looks frustrated, like he’s caught in some kind of internal battle. His hand raises slightly, then drops back to his side. “Laurie, I?—”

But he doesn’t finish. Instead, he takes a step closer, so close I can feel the warmth radiating off him. His expression shifts, softening but growing more determined at the same time. I open my mouth to ask what he’s doing, but before I can, he mutters, “To hell with it,” and cups my face in his hands.

Then he kisses me.

The shock of it sends a jolt through me, but I don’t pull away. His lips are firm and sure, and they taste faintly of mint. My body reacts before my mind catches up, melting into him as his hands slide into my hair. I grab onto his shoulders, anchoring myself as the kiss deepens, his touch igniting something in me, the same fire he started just hours earlier.

It's more than just lust. I know it is. But once more, Adam's kiss makes it nearly impossible to think.

This is what I needed. Not a party, not a distraction. This. Adam. His lips on mine. Just him. Just us.

Someone laughs loudly, too close for comfort, and I jump away from Adam as reality crashes back in. I'm breathless, my hands still gripping his biceps. "Adam, what happened to needing time to think?"

"Turns out I didn't need as much time as I thought."

"Then why didn't you stop me from leaving in the first place?"

Adam curses under his breath. "I'm trying to play this cool, okay? But I’m tired of pretending that I don't want to take you home right now and spend the rest of the night kissing every inch of your body. Not just tonight, either, Laurie."

My heart squeezes in my chest, "What about my mom? Your dad?"

"They're adults. They'll have to understand."

"What if they don't?"

"Then we'll deal with it."

It's all so intense that I can feel a headache coming on. I can read between the lines. He's talking about a lot more than just sleeping together, but we're also painfully aware of the bomb it will set off in our family. Suddenly, it feels like I can't breathe.

"I…Adam, I need a second. I need a second to breathe."

I don’t wait for him to respond. I turn and walk quickly back down the hallway, chest tight. The air outside is cool against my flushed skin as I step out onto the front porch, pulling my car keys from my bag with shaky hands. I don't even know where I want to go, just away from here.

I’m halfway to my car when I hear someone call my name.

“Laurie!”

I turn and groan inwardly when I see Danny leaning against the railing, a confident smirk plastered across his face.

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